Ald. Scott Waguespack (32) was first elected to the City Council in 2007 after defeating Theodore Matlakin in a runoff. Waguespack is a founding member of the City Council’s Progressive Reform Caucus and early in his career built a reputation as a proponent of good government in Chicago. The 32nd Ward alderman frequently made news during the Rahm Emanuel administration by butting heads with the former mayor over topics ranging from tax-increment financing to billboards.

Waguespack rode Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s successful election in 2019, moving from a staunch progressive council member to one of the mayor’s top allies and enforcers. As chair of the City Council’s Committee on Finance — one of the three most powerful committees — Waguespack plays a prominent role in council operations convening monthly meetings to regularly consider measures related to tax-increment finance agreements and police settlement payouts. Additionally, Waguespack has steered the committee toward environmental issues, such as a ban on the use of single-use plastics.

Waguespack is a proponent of aldermanic prerogative, a break from Lightfoot’s stance. Waguespack is running unopposed this year, just as he did in 2019.

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